Fellowship group raises money for trafficking victims

The funds will go to Women At Risk International, which helps women in 19 countries.

By Marie Mandelberg

Published Dec. 3, 2010

The Asian Christian Fellowship women’s group ConXXions held a fundraiser for Women At Risk International, or WAR, Int'l, on Wednesday and Thursday, selling jewelry, purses, scarves and pajama pants.

WAR, Int’l is a nonprofit organization meant to help women across the world with any number of issues ranging from domestic violence to natural disasters to sexual exploitation. The organization not only rescues women from these dangerous situations, but it also protects and supports the women in their lives after the rescue by providing shelter in safe houses across the world.

“Women At Risk, International unites and educates women to create circles of protection and hope around women at risk through culturally sensitive, value-added intervention projects,” according to the WAR, Int’l website.

WAR, Int’l has programs in 19 different countries, including the United States.

“I think a lot of students could be more educated about social injustices like this and just learn more about what’s going on overseas with a lot of things we don’t hear about here,” ConXXions member Asha Xu said.

The jewelry sold was made by women in safe houses in Nepal and Thailand who were rescued from sexual slavery. WAR Int’l not only sells jewelry, but also home décor, clothing, cards and toys.

WAR Int’l sells three different kinds of products: preventive, supportive and curative. The preventive products are made by at-risk women who wanted to save themselves from a life of trafficking. Supportive products are sold to help financially support WAR Int’l and reach more women across the world.

Curative products are made by rescued women who make a living off the products they create and sell. Ninety percent of the profit from the sale goes directly back to the women, and that money goes toward paying for education, medical care, job training and other various services.

“WAR is an amazing organization that gives love and hope to women around the world who need it, and if we as servers can in any way support them and encourage them, we should,” ACF member Christy Lee said.

Every semester, ConXXions takes on a humanitarian project to help other communities.

“One of our main goals in Asian Christian Fellowship is to outreach and share Christ's love through community,” Lee said.

According to its website, War Int’l is staffed by passionate Christians who want to help at-risk women. But, the organization does not limit who they help based on religion.

“Our point of view is that Christianity isn’t something that should be there Sunday morning," Xu said. "It should be everywhere in their lives.”

Lee said she understands it might be difficult for college students to donate large amounts of money, but even little amounts can make a big difference. Lee also said she hopes students will come away with a better understanding of this important issue.

“Many people in modern society do not realize how common human trafficking is and see it only in movies and television,” Lee said. “It's extremely common in our country as well, more than one would assume.”